JP7699252B2 - Vortex fluid mixer - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a vortex type fluid mixer that is used for fluid transport piping in various industries such as chemical plants, semiconductor manufacturing, food, medical, and bio industries, and mixes two or more types of fluids using vortex flows.

In various industrial fields such as chemical plants, semiconductor manufacturing, food, medical, and biotechnology, a static mixer with a twisted blade-shaped static mixer element installed in a pipe, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, is generally used as a method for mixing fluids flowing in a pipe. Typically, a static mixer element has a structure in which a rectangular plate twisted 180 degrees around its longitudinal axis is used as the smallest unit member, and multiple smallest unit members are connected in series. In a typical static mixer, the end of the right element (the end in the torsional axis direction), which is a rectangular plate twisted 180 degrees clockwise, and the end of the left element (the end in the torsional axis direction), which is a rectangular plate twisted 180 degrees counterclockwise, are installed in a pipe in a state where they are joined at right angles to each other at multiple points in the direction of fluid flow. With this configuration, the fluid flowing through the pipe is divided into two each time it passes through an element, and as the fluid flows along the twisted surface of the element, it is stirred by the action of shifting from the center of the pipe to the pipe wall and reversing the twisting direction of the flow, and the fluid is mixed uniformly in the radial direction of the pipe.

JP 2001-205062 A

In a static mixer such as that described in Patent Document 1, the static mixer element is simply inserted and positioned in a pipe so that it can be detached, and there is a gap between the pipe wall and the outer periphery of the element. Fluids tend to stagnate in such gaps. Furthermore, if the shape of the static mixer element is made complex for mixing purposes, stagnation is more likely to occur. Such stagnation of fluid can cause deterioration of the fluid and solidification of the slurry. In particular, when a static mixer is used to mix chemicals, such as in the manufacture of semiconductors, stagnation of the chemicals can cause deterioration of the chemicals, and the application of deteriorated chemicals to semiconductor wafers can cause defective products. Furthermore, when a static mixer is used to mix slurry, solidification of the slurry can lead to increased maintenance frequency.

The object of the present invention is therefore to solve the problems present in the prior art and to prevent the creation of areas where fluids stagnate inside an in-line fluid mixer that mixes different types of fluids.

In view of the above object, the present invention provides a vortex type fluid mixer comprising: a vortex chamber defined by a substantially cylindrical circumferential side wall and first and second end walls provided at both ends of the circumferential side wall and facing each other; an inlet flow passage extending along a central axis of an inlet flow passage and opening onto the circumferential side wall; an outlet flow passage extending along a central axis of an outlet flow passage and opening onto the first end wall; and at least one addition flow passage connected to an intermediate portion of the outlet flow passage for adding an additive fluid to a fluid flowing through the outlet flow passage , wherein the second end wall is formed by a diaphragm , the outlet flow passage is provided such that the central axis of the outlet flow passage passes approximately through a center of the first end wall, the vortex chamber is configured such that a fluid flowing in via the inlet flow passage generates a vortex-like swirling flow within the vortex chamber and flows out of the outlet flow passage while generating a swirling flow, and the additive fluid added from the addition flow passage is stirred and mixed with a fluid in the outlet flow passage by the action of the swirling flow.

In the above vortex type fluid mixer, a vortex chamber is defined by a cylindrical peripheral side wall and a first end wall and a second end wall that are provided at both ends of the vortex chamber, and the inlet flow path opens into the peripheral side wall of the vortex chamber, while the outlet flow path opens into the first end wall. The outlet flow path is provided so that the central axis of the outlet flow path passes through the approximate center of the first end wall, and when the fluid flows into the vortex chamber from the inlet flow path, a vortex-like swirling flow is generated in the vortex chamber. Furthermore, since the vortex chamber has a cylindrical peripheral side wall and the central axis of the outlet flow path passes through the approximate center of the first end wall, the fluid in the vortex chamber flows out of the outlet flow path while generating a swirling flow. Therefore, a swirling flow is also generated in the outlet flow path. The additive fluid is added from the additive flow path to the swirling flow in the outlet flow path, and the additive fluid is stirred and mixed with the fluid in the outlet flow path by the action of the swirling flow.

In the above vortex type fluid mixer, it is preferable that the addition passage is connected to the outlet passage in a region where a swirling flow is generated in the outlet passage.

The inlet flow passage is preferably arranged so that the inlet flow passage central axis passes through a position away from the vortex chamber central axis connecting the center of the first end wall and the center of the second end wall, and more preferably arranged so that the fluid flows from the inlet flow passage in a tangential direction to the peripheral side wall.

It is also preferable that the length of the outlet passage be 7.5 times or more the diameter of the outlet passage.

In addition, it is preferable that the additive flow passage is arranged so that the central axis of the additive flow passage is located at a distance of 8 times or less than the diameter of the outlet flow passage from the upstream end of the outlet flow passage in the direction of the central axis of the outlet flow passage, and it is even more preferable that the central axis of the additive flow passage is located at a distance of 4 times or less than the diameter of the outlet flow passage from the upstream end of the outlet flow passage in the direction of the central axis of the outlet flow passage.

In one embodiment , the diaphragm may be moved toward and away from the first end wall by a driver.

The present invention also provides a vortex type fluid mixer comprising: a vortex chamber defined by a generally cylindrical circumferential side wall and first and second end walls provided at both ends of the circumferential side wall and facing each other; an inlet flow passage extending along a central axis of an inlet flow passage and opening onto the circumferential side wall; an outlet flow passage extending along a central axis of an outlet flow passage and opening onto the first end wall; at least one addition flow passage connected to an intermediate portion of the outlet flow passage for adding an additive fluid to a fluid flowing through the outlet flow passage; and a flow rate adjustment valve for adjusting a flow rate of the additive fluid added from the addition flow passage to the outlet flow passage, wherein the outlet flow passage is provided such that the outlet flow passage central axis passes through an approximate center of the first end wall, and the vortex chamber is configured such that a fluid flowing in via the inlet flow passage generates a vortex-like swirling flow within the vortex chamber and flows out of the outlet flow passage while generating a swirling flow, and the additive fluid added from the addition flow passage is agitated and mixed with a fluid in the outlet flow passage by the action of the swirling flow.

According to the present invention, the fluid that flows into the vortex chamber from the inlet passage generates a swirling flow in the vortex chamber, and the fluid in the vortex chamber flows out of the outlet passage while generating a swirling flow. As a result, a swirling flow is also generated in the outlet passage, and when an additive fluid is added from the additive passage to the swirling flow in the outlet passage, the additive fluid is stirred and mixed with the fluid in the outlet passage by the action of the swirling flow. Therefore, mixing is possible without providing a static mixer element in the passage, and since the fluid flows along the cylindrical peripheral side wall even in the vortex chamber, the generation of stagnation areas can be suppressed.

1 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing the overall configuration of a vortex fluid mixer according to a first embodiment of the present invention, with a portion cut away so that the inside can be seen. FIG. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic diagram of flow lines representing the flow of a main fluid and an added fluid when the added fluid is added to and mixed with a main fluid supplied from an inlet passage of the vortex type fluid mixer shown in FIG. 1, passes through a vortex chamber, and is discharged from an outlet passage. FIG. 11 is a schematic side view of a vortex fluid mixer according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a schematic side view of a vortex fluid mixer according to a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration and dimensions of a vortex fluid mixer used in a numerical simulation. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration and dimensions of a vortex fluid mixer used in a numerical simulation. 1 is a graph showing the time change of the maximum and minimum values of the passive scalar of the mixed fluid obtained in each region at the downstream end (the end opposite the end connected to the vortex chamber) of the outlet flow passage in a numerical simulation using a vortex type fluid mixer. 1 is a graph showing a correlation between the ratio of the length of the outlet passage (outlet passage length) to the diameter of the outlet passage (outlet passage diameter) and the difference between the maximum and minimum values of the passive scalar of the mixed fluid obtained in each region at the downstream end of the outlet passage, obtained by a numerical simulation using a vortex type fluid mixer. 11 is a graph showing a correlation between the difference between the maximum and minimum values of the passive scalar of the mixed fluid obtained in each region of the confluence position of the outlet flow channel and the additive flow channel and the downstream end of the outlet flow channel, obtained by a numerical simulation using a vortex fluid mixer under a first combination of flow rates of the main fluid and the additive fluid. 11 is a graph showing a correlation between the difference between the maximum and minimum values of the passive scalar of the mixed fluid obtained in each region of the confluence position of the outlet flow channel and the additive flow channel and the downstream end of the outlet flow channel, obtained by a numerical simulation using a vortex fluid mixer under a second combination of flow rates of the main fluid and the additive fluid. FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of a vortex fluid mixer according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Below, an embodiment of a vortex fluid mixer according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, the overall configuration of the vortex fluid mixer 11 of the first embodiment will be described with reference to Figure 1.

The vortex type fluid mixer 11 includes a generally cylindrical peripheral wall 13 extending along the central axis, a first end wall 15 and a second end wall 17 provided at both ends of the peripheral wall 13 in the central axis direction so as to face each other, an inlet passage 19, an outlet passage 21, and an additive passage 23 connected to the middle part of the outlet passage 21. The first end wall 15 and the second end wall 17 have the same generally circular shape and are provided so as to close both ends of the peripheral wall 13 in the central axis direction, and the space surrounded by the peripheral wall 13, the first end wall 15, and the second end wall 17 constitutes a vortex chamber 25. The vortex chamber central axis O extending to connect the center of the first end wall 15 and the center of the second end wall 17 coincides with the central axis of the peripheral wall 13 and extends perpendicular to the first end wall 15 and the second end wall 17.

The inlet flow passage 19 extends along the inlet flow passage central axis P1 perpendicular to the vortex chamber central axis O, and opens to the peripheral side wall 13. The inlet flow passage central axis P1 extends so as to pass through the center of the cross section of the inlet flow passage 19. The outlet flow passage 21 extends from the vortex chamber 25 to the outside along the outlet flow passage central axis P2 parallel to the vortex chamber central axis O and perpendicular to the first end wall 15, and opens to the first end wall 15 of the vortex chamber 25. The outlet flow passage central axis P2 extends so as to pass through the center of the cross section of the outlet flow passage 21. In the illustrated embodiment, the inlet flow passage 19 and the outlet flow passage 21 are both formed of circular pipes having a circular cross section. However, the cross sections of the inlet flow passage 19 and the outlet flow passage 21 are not limited to a circular shape, and may be polygonal, such as an elliptical shape or a square shape. In the illustrated embodiment, the inlet flow passage 19 is formed of a straight circular pipe, but may be formed in other shapes, such as a nozzle shape, as long as it is possible to flow a fluid into the vortex chamber 25.

The inlet flow passage 19 is provided so that the inlet flow passage central axis P1 passes through an eccentric position away from the vortex chamber central axis O. Therefore, the fluid flowing in from the inlet flow passage 19 hits the circumferential side wall 13 in the vortex chamber 25 and flows along the circumferential side wall 13 to generate a swirling flow, which flows toward the outlet flow passage 21 and flows out from the outlet flow passage 21. In order to easily generate a swirling flow, the inlet flow passage 19 is preferably provided so that the fluid flowing into the vortex chamber 25 from the inlet flow passage 19 flows along the circumferential side wall 13. In the illustrated embodiment, the inlet flow passage 19 extends in a tangential direction of the generally cylindrical circumferential side wall 13 and is connected to the circumferential side wall 13 so that the inlet flow passage central axis P1 is parallel to the tangent, so that the fluid flows from the inlet flow passage 19 into the vortex chamber 25 in a substantially tangential direction to the circumferential side wall 13.

The outlet flow passage 21 is provided so that the outlet flow passage central axis P2 extends perpendicular to the first end wall 15 and passes through the approximate center of the first end wall 15, i.e., so that the outlet flow passage central axis P2 extends substantially in alignment with the vortex chamber central axis O. With this configuration, as shown in FIG. 2, the fluid flowing in from the inlet flow passage 19 flows along the peripheral side wall 13 in the vortex chamber 25, generating a vortex-like swirling flow toward the outlet flow passage 21, and is discharged from the vortex chamber 25 to the outlet flow passage 21 as a swirling flow. Therefore, at least near the inlet from the vortex chamber 25 to the outlet flow passage 21 (the connection end between the vortex chamber 25 and the outlet flow passage 21, i.e. the upstream end of the outlet flow passage 21), the swirling flow is maintained and flows downstream in a vortex state.

The additive flow passage 23 extends along the additive flow passage central axis P3, and is connected to the vicinity of the inlet from the vortex chamber 25 to the outlet flow passage 21 (i.e., the upstream end of the outlet flow passage 21) in the range where the above-mentioned swirling flow is generated in the outlet flow passage 21 to form a confluence. That is, the confluence is configured to add the additive fluid from the additive flow passage 23 to the main flow while the main flow discharged from the vortex chamber 25 to the outlet flow passage 21 maintains a swirling flow. The confluence (confluence position) of the outlet flow passage 21 and the additive flow passage 23 is preferably provided so that the additive flow passage central axis P3 of the additive flow passage 23 is located within a distance of 8 times the diameter of the outlet flow passage 21 from the inlet of the outlet flow passage 21 (i.e., the upstream end of the outlet flow passage 21), and more preferably so that the additive flow passage central axis P3 is located within a distance of 4 times the diameter of the outlet flow passage 21.

In the illustrated first embodiment, one end of a straight additive flow path 23 is connected near the upstream end of the straight outlet flow path 21 so that the outlet flow path 21 and the additive flow path 23 extend vertically, forming a T-shaped flow path, and the main fluid A supplied to the inlet flow path 19 flows into the upstream end of the outlet flow path 21 through the vortex chamber 25, and the additive fluid B is supplied from the other end of the additive flow path 23, so that the fluids A and B are merged at the junction. The shape of the junction is not limited to a T-shape, and may be, for example, a Y-shape in which the additive flow path 23 merges obliquely with the outlet flow path 21. In the illustrated first embodiment, the additive flow passage 23 has a central axis P3 that extends parallel to the central axis P1 of the inlet flow passage 19 in order to reduce the installation space, and the inlet flow passage 19 and the additive flow passage 23 are arranged on the same side of the vortex chamber 25. However, the additive flow passage central axis P3 does not need to extend parallel to the central axis P1 of the inlet flow passage, and the inlet flow passage 19 and the additive flow passage 23 do not need to be arranged on the same side of the vortex chamber 25, and the additive flow passage 23 can extend in any direction. Furthermore, two or more additive flow passages 23 may be connected to the outlet flow passage 21, and three or more types of fluids may be merged. The additive flow passage 23 is preferably a straight circular pipe with a circular cross section, like the outlet flow passage 21, but is not limited to a circular pipe and can be a pipe with a cross section of any shape.

In the vortex type fluid mixer 11, the inlet flow passage central axis P1 passes through an eccentric position away from the vortex chamber central axis O, and the outlet flow passage central axis P2 extends through a position away from the inlet flow passage central axis P1. Therefore, in the vortex chamber 25, the main fluid supplied to the inlet flow passage 19 and flowing into the vortex chamber 25 hits the peripheral side wall 13 and flows along the peripheral side wall 13 to generate a swirling flow, which then becomes a vortex and heads toward the outlet flow passage 21 and is discharged into the outlet flow passage 21. Also, as shown in FIG. 2, the main fluid in the vortex chamber 25 is discharged from the outlet flow passage 21 while still generating a swirling flow, and the additive fluid is added to the main fluid from the additive flow passage 23 within the range in which the main fluid generates a swirling flow in the outlet flow passage 21 and merges with it. Therefore, the additive fluid added from the additive flow passage 23 to the main fluid of the swirling flow in the outlet flow passage 21 is diffused into the main fluid by the stirring action of the swirling flow, and the concentration variation (unevenness in concentration distribution) of different types of fluids can be reduced. For this reason, as long as a swirling flow is maintained within the outlet flow passage 21, the longer the outlet flow passage 21 is and the higher the flow velocity of the mainstream fluid, the greater the effect of reducing concentration variations, and it is preferable that the length of the outlet flow passage 21 is 7.5 times or more the diameter of the outlet flow passage 21.

The vortex fluid mixer according to the present invention can reduce the variation in concentration (unevenness in concentration distribution) of different types of fluids if it generates a swirling flow in the vortex chamber 25, discharges the main fluid into the outlet passage 21 while maintaining the swirling flow, and adds an additive fluid from the additive passage 23 to the main fluid that has generated the swirling flow in the outlet passage 21. Therefore, the vortex fluid mixer is not limited to the configuration of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

For example, as in the vortex type fluid mixer 51 according to the second embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the second end wall may be formed by a diaphragm 17'. In the second embodiment, the diaphragm 17' is driven by a drive unit (not shown) to approach and move away from the first end wall 15, thereby increasing and decreasing the volume of the vortex chamber 25 and adjusting the flow rate of the fluid (main fluid) in the vortex chamber 25. The drive unit may adopt various drive methods such as manual, air-driven, and electric. By adjusting the flow rate of the fluid (main fluid) in the vortex chamber 25, the swirl speed of the main body in the vortex chamber 25 and the outlet flow path 21 can be changed, making it possible to perform appropriate mixing with less concentration unevenness according to the type of fluid to be mixed.

Figure 4 shows a vortex type fluid mixer 61 according to the third embodiment, in which a flow rate control valve 63 is provided on the additive flow passage 23. In the vortex type fluid mixer 61 according to the third embodiment, the flow rate control valve 63 is used to change the flow rate of the additive fluid added from the additive flow passage 23 to the outlet flow passage 21, thereby adjusting the mixing ratio of the main fluid and the additive fluid. However, as long as the flow rate of the additive fluid added from the additive flow passage 23 to the outlet flow passage 21 can be adjusted, the position where the flow rate control valve 63 is provided is not limited to on the additive flow passage 23. For example, the flow rate control valve 63 may be provided between the additive fluid supply source and the additive flow passage 23. In addition, the flow rate of the main fluid, rather than the additive fluid, may be changed. For example, a flow rate control valve not shown may be provided to adjust the flow rate of the main fluid supplied from the inlet flow passage 19 into the vortex chamber 25. In this case, a flow rate control valve may be provided on the inlet flow passage 19, or a flow rate control valve may be provided between the supply source of the main fluid and the inlet flow passage 19.

In the vortex fluid mixer 51 according to the second embodiment and the vortex fluid mixer 61 according to the third embodiment shown in Figures 3 and 4, the same reference numerals are used for components common to the vortex fluid mixer 11 of the first embodiment shown in Figure 1. Furthermore, components with the same reference numerals have similar configurations. Therefore, a description of the components common to the vortex fluid mixer 11 of the first embodiment will be omitted here.

The following describes the results of a numerical simulation using a vortex fluid mixer with a configuration similar to that of the vortex fluid mixer 11 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1. In the following description, to make the description easier to understand, the components of the vortex fluid mixer used in the numerical simulation are given the same reference numerals as those of the vortex fluid mixer 11.

Numerical simulations were performed using a vortex type fluid mixer 11 having the configuration and dimensions shown in Figures 5 and 6, unless otherwise specified. In detail, the vortex chamber 25 has a cylindrical shape with a diameter of 20 mm and a height of 4 mm, and a circular tubular inlet flow passage 19 with a diameter of 4 mm is connected to the peripheral side wall 13 so that the inlet flow passage central axis P1 passes through a position 8 mm away from the center of the vortex chamber 25. In addition, a circular tubular outlet flow passage 21 with a diameter D and a length L1 is connected to the first end wall 15 so as to extend along the outlet flow passage central axis P2 aligned in a straight line with the vortex chamber central axis O. In other words, the outlet flow passage 21 passes through the center of the first end wall 15 and extends from the first end wall 15 along the outlet flow passage central axis P2 perpendicular to the first end wall 15. Furthermore, an additive flow passage 23 having a circular tube shape and a diameter of 4 mm extends through the center of the outlet flow passage 21 along an additive flow passage central axis P3 perpendicular to the outlet flow passage central axis P2 to a position 15 mm away from the outlet flow passage central axis P2, and is connected to the outlet flow passage 21 such that the distance from the upstream end of the outlet flow passage 21 where the outlet flow passage 21 and the first end wall 15 are connected to the additive flow passage central axis P3 of the additive flow passage 23 is L2. In the vortex type fluid mixer 11 having such a configuration, blue water is supplied to the inlet flow passage 19 as the main fluid, and red water is supplied to the additive flow passage 23 as the additive fluid, the additive fluid is added from the additive flow passage to the main fluid supplied from the inlet flow passage 19 and discharged from the outlet flow passage 21 in a swirling flow state through the vortex chamber 25 to merge the two fluids, and the passive scalar of the mixed fluid generated by the merging and mixing of the main fluid and the additive fluid is obtained at the downstream end of the outlet flow passage 21. A passive scalar is a proxy for the concentration of the color of a mixed fluid, with red being 1 (100% concentration of red water) and blue being 0 (0% concentration of red water).

First, the variation in the concentration of the mixed fluid (unevenness in the concentration distribution) depending on the radial position at the downstream end of the outlet flow passage 21 (the end located at the most downstream side opposite the end connected to the vortex chamber 25) was confirmed by numerical simulation. In the numerical simulation, a vortex type fluid mixer 11 having the configuration and dimensions shown in Figures 5 and 6, with the diameter D of the outlet flow passage 21 being Φ4 mm, the length L1 of the outlet flow passage 21 being 80 mm, and the distance L2 from the upstream end of the outlet flow passage 21 to the central axis P3 of the additive flow passage being 5 mm was used, and blue water was supplied as the main fluid to the inlet flow passage 19 at 800 mL/min, and red water was supplied as the additive fluid to the additive flow passage 23 at 200 mL/min. The passive scalar of the mixed fluid obtained by adding the additive fluid to the main fluid and mixing it was obtained at the downstream end of the outlet flow passage 21, and the mixing of the blue water and the red water was evaluated using the passive scalar as an index.

Figure 7 is a graph showing the change over time in the passive scalar of the mixed fluid at the downstream end of the outlet flow path 21. In Figure 7, the cross section at the downstream end of the outlet flow path 21 is divided into multiple regions to obtain the passive scalar of the mixed fluid in each region, and the change over time in the maximum value of the passive scalar of each region is shown by a solid line, and the change over time in the minimum value is shown by a dashed line. As shown in Figure 7, at the downstream end of the outlet flow path 21, the maximum and minimum values of the passive scalar of the mixed fluid are almost the same, and there is almost no difference between the regions of the passive scalar of the mixed fluid at the downstream end of the outlet flow path 21, and there is almost no change over time. That is, from Figure 7, it can be seen that at the downstream end of the outlet flow path 21, there is almost no unevenness in the concentration distribution of the mixed fluid in the radial direction and flow direction, and the mixed fluid is sufficiently mixed. Therefore, it was confirmed that by using the vortex type fluid mixer 11, the variation in concentration (unevenness in concentration distribution) due to the radial position and flow direction of different types of fluids is reduced, and the effect of uniforming the concentration is obtained.

Next, the effect of the length L1 of the outlet flow passage 21 on the variation in the concentration of the mixed fluid (unevenness in the concentration distribution) was confirmed by a numerical simulation. In the numerical simulation, a vortex-type fluid mixer 11 having the configuration and dimensions shown in Figures 5 and 6 was used, but the distance L2 from the upstream end of the outlet flow passage 21 to the central axis P3 of the additive flow passage was set to 5 mm, the diameter D of the outlet flow passage 21 was fixed at Φ4 mm, and the ratio of the length L1 of the outlet flow passage 21 to the diameter D was changed in the range of 5 to 25, and the passive scalar of the mixed fluid was obtained at the downstream end of the outlet flow passage 21. In addition, for each vortex-type fluid mixer 11 having an outlet flow passage 21 with a different ratio of the length L1 to the diameter D, the above numerical simulation was performed under different combinations of the flow rates of the main fluid and the additive fluid while maintaining the same mixing ratio to enable comparison, and the passive scalar of the mixed fluid was obtained at the downstream end of the outlet flow passage 21.

Figure 8 is a line graph showing the correlation between the ratio of the length L1 of the outlet flow channel 21 to the diameter D of the outlet flow channel 21 and the difference between the maximum and minimum values of the passive scalar of the mixed fluid at the downstream end of the outlet flow channel 21 for each combination of flow rates of the main fluid and the additive fluid while maintaining the same mixture ratio. In Figure 8, the results of a numerical simulation are shown with the ratio of the length L1 of the outlet flow channel 21 to the diameter D of the outlet flow channel 21 on the horizontal axis and the difference between the maximum and minimum values of the passive scalar of the mixed fluid obtained in each of multiple regions divided by the cross section at the downstream end of the outlet flow channel 21 on the vertical axis. In FIG. 8, the symbol "◆" indicates the relationship between the ratio of the length L1 of the outlet flow passage 21 to the diameter D of the outlet flow passage 21 and the difference between the maximum and minimum values of the passive scalar of the mixed fluid at the downstream end of the outlet flow passage 21 when the flow rate of the mainstream fluid supplied to the inlet flow passage 19 is 0.2 L/min and the flow rate of the additive fluid supplied to the additive flow passage 23 is 0.05 L/min, the symbol "▲" indicates the relationship between the flow rate of the mainstream fluid supplied to the inlet flow passage 19 is 0.4 L/min and the flow rate of the additive fluid supplied to the additive flow passage 23 is 0.1 L/min, the symbol "■" indicates the relationship between the flow rate of the mainstream fluid supplied to the inlet flow passage 19 is 0.8 L/min and the flow rate of the additive fluid supplied to the additive flow passage 23 is 0.2 L/min, and the symbol "●" indicates the relationship between the flow rate of the mainstream fluid supplied to the inlet flow passage 19 is 1.6 L/min and the flow rate of the additive fluid supplied to the additive flow passage 23 is 0.4 L/min.

8, it can be seen that the greater the ratio of the length L1 of the outlet flow passage 21 to the diameter D of the outlet flow passage 21, the smaller the difference between the maximum and minimum values of the passive scalar of the mixed fluid at the downstream end of the outlet flow passage 21. The smaller the difference between the maximum and minimum values of the passive scalar of the mixed fluid in each region of the cross section of the downstream end of the outlet flow passage 21, the more uniformly the mixed fluid is mixed at the downstream end of the outlet flow passage 21. Therefore, the greater the ratio of the length L1 of the outlet flow passage 21 to the diameter D of the outlet flow passage 21, the more the effect of mixing the mixed fluid is enhanced. This is thought to be because the longer the length L1 of the outlet flow passage 21 and the higher the flow velocity of the mainstream fluid flowing through the outlet flow passage 21, the more the additive fluid is dispersed in the mainstream fluid due to the action of the swirling flow. Considering the conditions and results of the numerical simulation shown in FIG. 7 and the conditions and results of the numerical simulation shown in FIG. 8, it can be said that the length L1 of the outlet flow passage 21 is preferably 7.5 times or more the diameter D of the outlet flow passage 21.

Furthermore, the influence of the position (junction position) of the junction (connection point) of the outlet flow path 21 and the additive flow path 23 on the concentration variation (unevenness of concentration distribution) of the mixed fluid was confirmed by a numerical simulation. In the numerical simulation, a vortex type fluid mixer 11 having the configuration and dimensions shown in Figures 5 and 6 was used, but in the case where the diameter D of the outlet flow path 21 was Φ4 mm, Φ6 mm, Φ8 mm, and Φ10 mm, the length L1 of the outlet flow path 21 was 25 times the diameter D of the outlet flow path 21, i.e., 25D, and the distance L2 from the upstream end of the outlet flow path 21 to the central axis P3 of the additive flow path was changed to 1 time, 2 times, 4 times, 8 times, and 12 times the diameter D of the outlet flow path 21, i.e., D, 2D, 4D, 8D, and 12D, and the passive scalar of the mixed fluid was obtained at the downstream end of the outlet flow path 21.

9 and 10 are line graphs showing the correlation between the maximum and minimum passive scalars of the mixed fluid at the confluence of the outlet flow channel 21 and the additive flow channel and at the downstream end of the outlet flow channel 21, obtained in a numerical simulation in which the flow rate of the main fluid supplied to the inlet flow channel 19 is 0.2 L/min and the flow rate of the additive fluid supplied to the additive flow channel 23 is 0.05 L/min, and in a numerical simulation in which the flow rate of the main fluid supplied to the inlet flow channel 19 is 1.6 L/min and the flow rate of the additive fluid supplied to the additive flow channel 23 is 0.4 L/min. In order to make it possible to compare, the flow rate ratio of the main fluid to the additive fluid is set to be the same so that the same mixture ratio is maintained in the numerical simulations to obtain FIGS. 9 and 10. 9 and 10 , the results of the numerical simulation are shown, with the horizontal axis representing the confluence position based on the ratio of “distance L2 from the upstream end of the outlet flow passage 21 in the direction of the outlet flow passage central axis P2 to the additive flow passage central axis P3” to “diameter D of the outlet flow passage 21,” and the vertical axis representing the difference between the maximum and minimum values of the passive scalar of the mixed fluid obtained in each of a plurality of regions obtained by dividing the cross section at the downstream end of the outlet flow passage 21. In Figures 9 and 10, the symbol "◆" indicates the correlation between the merging position (the ratio of the "distance L2 from the upstream end of the outlet flow path 21 in the direction of the outlet flow path central axis P2 to the additive flow path central axis P3" to the "diameter D of the outlet flow path 21") and the difference between the maximum and minimum values of the passive scalar of the mixed fluid at the downstream end of the outlet flow path 21 when the diameter D of the outlet flow path 21 is Φ10 mm, the symbol "▲" indicates the diameter D of the outlet flow path 21 is Φ8 mm, the symbol "■" indicates the diameter D of the outlet flow path 21 is Φ6 mm, and the symbol "● ... distance L2 from the upstream end of the outlet flow path 21 in the direction of the outlet flow path central axis P2 to the additive flow path central axis P3) and the difference between the maximum and minimum values of the passive scalar of the mixed fluid at the downstream end of the outlet flow path 21.

9 and 10, regardless of the flow rates of the main fluid and the additive fluid, the closer the confluence position of the outlet flow passage 21 and the additive flow passage 23 is to the upstream end of the outlet flow passage 21, i.e., the closer it is to the vortex chamber 25, the smaller the difference between the maximum and minimum values of the passive scalar of the mixed fluid at the downstream end of the outlet flow passage 21 becomes. As described above, a small difference between the maximum and minimum values of the passive scalar of the mixed fluid in each region of the cross section at the downstream end of the outlet flow passage 21 means that the mixed fluid is mixed uniformly at the downstream end of the outlet flow passage 21. Therefore, the closer the confluence position of the outlet flow passage 21 and the additive flow passage 23 is to the upstream end of the outlet flow passage 21, i.e., the closer it is to the vortex chamber 25, the more uniformly the mixed fluid is mixed. This is because the closer the confluence position of the outlet flow passage 21 and the additive flow passage 23 is to the upstream end of the outlet flow passage 21, the more the strength of the swirling flow generated in the vortex chamber 25 is maintained in the outlet flow passage 21, and the swirling flow provides a higher stirring effect. In addition, from the results shown in Figures 9 and 10, it can be said that the confluence position of the outlet flow path 21 and the additive flow path 23 (the distance L2 from the upstream end of the outlet flow path 21 to the additive flow path central axis P3 in the direction of the outlet flow path central axis P2) is preferably close to the upstream end of the outlet flow path 21, and in particular, it is preferably located within a distance of 8 times the diameter D of the outlet flow path 21, and more preferably within a distance of 4 times the diameter D of the outlet flow path 21.

Furthermore, comparing Figures 9 and 10, it can be seen that, under the condition that the volume of the vortex chamber 25 is constant, the greater the flow rate of the main flow, the smaller the difference between the maximum and minimum values of the passive scalar of the mixed fluid at the downstream end of the outlet flow passage 21 can be kept, even if the confluence position of the outlet flow passage 21 and the additive flow passage 23 is farther away from the upstream end of the outlet flow passage 21. Therefore, under the condition that the volume of the vortex chamber 25 is constant, the greater the flow rate of the main flow, the greater the effect of mixing the mixed fluid more uniformly.

The vortex type fluid mixers 11, 51, and 61 according to the present invention have been described above with reference to the illustrated embodiment, but the present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, one additive flow path 23 is connected to the outlet flow path 21, and two types of fluids are joined together, but two or more additive flow paths 23 may be connected to the outlet flow path 21, and three or more types of fluids may be joined together.

11, a further vortex type fluid mixer 71 may be provided downstream of the outlet flow passage 21. In this case, the vortex type fluid mixer 71 includes a cylindrical peripheral side wall 73 extending along the central axis, a first end wall 75 and a second end wall 77 provided at both ends of the peripheral side wall 73 in the central axis direction so as to face each other, and an outlet flow passage 79 opening into the first end wall 75. The space surrounded by the peripheral side wall 73, the first end wall 75, and the second end wall 77 constitutes a vortex chamber, and the outlet flow passage 21 of the vortex type fluid mixer 11 is connected to the peripheral side wall 73 so as to open into the vortex chamber of the vortex type fluid mixer 71. In addition, the outlet flow passage 21 is connected to the peripheral side wall 73 so that the outlet flow passage central axis P2 of the outlet flow passage 21 passes through an eccentric position away from the central axis of the vortex chamber of the vortex type fluid mixer 71, and the outlet flow passage 79 is provided so that its central axis extends through a position away from the outlet flow passage central axis P2 of the outlet flow passage 21. When the outlet flow passage 21 of the vortex type fluid mixer 11 is connected to the vortex type fluid mixer 71 having such a configuration, the fluid flowing from the outlet flow passage 21 into the vortex chamber of the vortex type fluid mixer 71 becomes a swirling flow in the vortex chamber of the vortex type fluid mixer 71, generating a vortex, and then is discharged from the outlet flow passage 79. Therefore, the fluid flowing from the outlet flow passage 21 into the vortex chamber of the vortex type fluid mixer 71 is stirred by the action of the vortex in the vortex chamber and mixed more uniformly.

Reference Signs List 11 vortex type fluid mixer 13 peripheral side wall 15 first end wall 17 second end wall 17' diaphragm 19 inlet passage 21 outlet passage 23 addition passage 25 vortex chamber 51 vortex type fluid mixer 61 vortex type fluid mixer 71 vortex type fluid mixer 73 peripheral side wall 75 first end wall 77 second end wall 79 outlet passage

Claims (9)

a vortex chamber defined by a generally cylindrical peripheral wall and a first end wall and a second end wall provided at both ends of the peripheral wall and opposed to each other;
an inlet passage extending along a central axis of the inlet passage and opening at the peripheral side wall;
an outlet passage extending along an outlet passage central axis and opening at the first end wall;
At least one additive flow passage connected to a middle portion of the outlet flow passage for adding an additive fluid to the fluid flowing through the outlet flow passage;
Equipped with
a vortex type fluid mixer, characterized in that the second end wall is formed by a diaphragm, the outlet flow passage is provided such that a central axis of the outlet flow passage passes approximately through a center of the first end wall, the vortex chamber is configured such that a fluid flowing in via the inlet flow passage generates a vortex-like swirling flow within the vortex chamber and flows out of the outlet flow passage while generating a swirling flow, and an additive fluid added from the additive flow passage is agitated and mixed with the fluid in the outlet flow passage by the action of the swirling flow. The vortex type fluid mixer according to claim 1, wherein the additive flow passage is connected to the outlet flow passage in a region where a swirling flow occurs in the outlet flow passage. The vortex type fluid mixer according to claim 2, wherein the inlet flow passage is provided such that the inlet flow passage central axis passes through a position away from the vortex chamber central axis connecting the center of the first end wall and the center of the second end wall. The vortex type fluid mixer according to claim 3, wherein the inlet passage is arranged so that the fluid flows from the inlet passage in a tangential direction relative to the peripheral side wall. The vortex type fluid mixer according to claim 1, wherein the length of the outlet passage is 7.5 times or more the diameter of the outlet passage. The vortex type fluid mixer according to claim 1, wherein the additive flow passage is provided such that the central axis of the additive flow passage is located at a distance of 8 times or less than the diameter of the outlet flow passage from the upstream end of the outlet flow passage in the direction of the central axis of the outlet flow passage. The vortex type fluid mixer according to claim 6, wherein the additive flow passage is provided such that the central axis of the additive flow passage is located at a distance of up to four times the diameter of the outlet flow passage from the upstream end of the outlet flow passage in the direction of the central axis of the outlet flow passage. The vortex fluid mixer of claim 1 , wherein the diaphragm is moved toward and away from the first end wall by a driver. a vortex chamber defined by a generally cylindrical peripheral wall and a first end wall and a second end wall provided at both ends of the peripheral wall and opposed to each other;
an inlet passage extending along a central axis of the inlet passage and opening at the peripheral side wall;
an outlet passage extending along an outlet passage central axis and opening at the first end wall;
At least one additive flow passage connected to a middle portion of the outlet flow passage for adding an additive fluid to the fluid flowing through the outlet flow passage;
a flow rate regulating valve for regulating a flow rate of an additive fluid added from the additive flow path to the outlet flow path ;
Equipped with
the outlet flow passage is provided such that a central axis of the outlet flow passage passes approximately through a center of the first end wall, and the vortex chamber is configured such that a fluid flowing in through the inlet flow passage generates a vortex-like swirling flow within the vortex chamber and flows out of the outlet flow passage while generating a swirling flow, and an additive fluid added from the additive flow passage is agitated and mixed with the fluid in the outlet flow passage by the action of the swirling flow .

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